# no fee for parking in handicapped spots? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 10, 2019, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366 "2019-04-10T22:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/21 "2019-04-11T09:53:04Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > In the UK, spaces are normally free for disabled drivers, even if the the allocated spaces are full and they have to park in a regular spot. Private car parks may charge. > > Those with disability badges can also park on double yellow lines without restriction as long as they are not causing an obstruction. Most of the car parks near me in the UK charge for the disabled spots AFAIK. Some of them specifically say on the sign “Blue badge holders must pay fee”. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/22 "2019-04-11T10:04:33Z")
According to a wheelchair user friend, the major reason UK parking is usually free to disabled drivers is actually because the coin slots in the meters originally installed in council owned car parks were simply too high up for use by someone using a wheelchair. This meant that some people who could drive a modified vehicle were unable to use the machines to pay, so complained that they were not accessible. The most cost effective solution at the time was simply to declare that anyone with a disabled badge didn’t have to pay, as not many people were affected so that was cheaper than re-designing and replacing all the machines. Most people turned out to be OK with this, figuring that the inconveniences of disability made free parking a fair enough perk, so it’s largely just stuck, as deliberately getting machines that are usable by wheelchair users and requiring them to pay now comes across as picking on the disabled, rather than accommodating them. Dunno how true that is, but the meters in private car parks here which do require disabled users to pay are certainly lower and differently designed. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/23 "2019-04-11T12:46:25Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > In the UK, spaces are normally free for disabled drivers, even if the the allocated spaces are full and they have to park in a regular spot. Private car parks may charge. > > Those with disability badges can also park on double yellow lines without restriction as long as they are not causing an obstruction. Not quite true. Unlimited parking on double yellows is for Scotland only. Elsewhere it’s three hours (and less in some areas like the City of London and Westminster). [The Blue Badge scheme](http://www.knowyourparkingrights.org/News/the-blue-badge-scheme) That’s why you get a “clock” as part of the Blue Badge. The parking spaces are not always free, as that link states. Car parks (even at hospitals) almost always charge the same amount for disabled spaces as any others, IME. Some allow you extra time for the same money, but they’re rare. Parking in spaces that aren’t specifically marked for disabled users may attract a fee (doesn’t say that in the links, that’s just my own experience). On-road metered parking is free (partly because most residential streets don’t have specific disabled parking spots available to any disabled user; they might have marked ones for specific residents but they really are just for those residents) but that doesn’t apply to car parks. > **[The Blue Badge scheme](http://www.knowyourparkingrights.org/News/the-blue-badge-scheme)** > > Concessions exist for Blue Badge holders, primarily where road markings prohibit or restrict parking for other road users, but not all parking is free of charge. But it’s much harder to get a Blue Badge in the UK than it seems to be in the US, and there are no temporary disabled permits. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/24 "2019-04-11T13:21:46Z")
I’m going to also assume the main driver for this is ADA. If you offer handicap parking without a meter you avoid requiring the meter and surrounding area the meter is installed in to meet ADA requirements. I’m guessing the minimal revenue a city would gain from meters at handicap spots is significantly lower than the costs of installing ADA compliant meters (if even such a thing exists) and potentially modifications to the sidewalk/medians where the meters are installed. Put a standard meter in and hello ADA lawsuit. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/25 "2019-04-11T13:26:54Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > “Primo” parking spots AND free parking for people struggling with mobility? Why, the very idea! What’s next, no tax on porridge for orphans? Free camps for disabled kids? :applause: ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/26 "2019-04-11T13:36:14Z")
I see the SDMB has morphed into a version of an online comments section. Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/27 "2019-04-11T13:58:53Z")
> [@CC](#): > > I see the SDMB has morphed into a version of an online comments section. Oh, well. Your post #11 pretty much opened that up. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/28 "2019-04-11T14:00:40Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > If meters were not for revenue, they would use parking discs like in Germany. They are most certainly used to generate revenue. Cities make tens of milluons of dollars from parking meters. > [https://www.parkingpanda.com/blog/post/top-10-cities-with-highest-revenues-from-parking-violations](https://www.parkingpanda.com/blog/post/top-10-cities-with-highest-revenues-from-parking-violations) > Even a small city can rake in 6 figures a month. Your link is for parking violations, not parking meters, which is in agreement with my post. > [@](#): > > Parking fees are not so much for revenue **(parking tickets are another subject)**, I emboldened the part you may have missed of my post. In general the ideal is that parking meters go to pay for the metering system, signs and parking enforcement (which includes salaries of ‘meter maids’). This makes sense as that is to the benefit to the driver to pay, as that ensures you can get a parking spot. Also not overcharging for parking makes the businesses happier as it’s not a discouragement beyond what is needed to ensure turnover. So it is the goal of most metering systems however skimming revenue does happen in some places. Though gaining revenue this way is punitive and there is no reason to punish a person for not doing anything wrong. The real revenue from such a system comes from tickets, which your link supports. Going back to the OP, a handicap person need a close spot, and can’t afford to hunt around for a long term parking spot. We as a society entitle them to a primo spot. So that spot many times is for them both long term and short term, so no need to time them, this no need for meters for them. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/29 "2019-04-11T14:25:10Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > The fee is you are Handicapped. Life ain’t fair. Get used to it. I’ve got no problem with free parking for the handicapped, but life doesn’t make parking rules. People do. If it’s fair, it’s the people who made the rules being fair. If it’s not, it’s the people who made the rules being unfair. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/30 "2019-04-11T18:27:59Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > If meters were not for revenue, they would use parking discs like in Germany. They are most certainly used to generate revenue. Cities make tens of milluons of dollars from parking meters. > [https://www.parkingpanda.com/blog/post/top-10-cities-with-highest-revenues-from-parking-violations](https://www.parkingpanda.com/blog/post/top-10-cities-with-highest-revenues-from-parking-violations) > Even a small city can rake in 6 figures a month. In many places more from the fines than from the meters. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/31 "2019-04-11T18:31:37Z")
You’d think San Fran would be liberal on this, but not really. On one very short street it turns into a “No stopping” zone at 3PM, for no discernable reason. Four metered spots, three handicapped spots. @ 2:50, three or four tow trucks line up and at 3:01 they cite and tow, including usually 2-3 handicapped parkers. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/32 "2019-04-11T18:36:17Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > Your post #11 pretty much opened that up. At some point in the not so distant past, when folks were much more civil, my post would have been responded to by someone, such as **Kanicbird** , who kindly did provide an explanation and a justification for untimed, and unpaid parking spots. Now, that statement is responded to with “You’re an asshole for bringing that up!” Don’t worry, young fella, we’ll all be out of your way soon. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/33 "2019-04-11T18:43:01Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Parking fees are not so much for revenue (parking tickets are another subject), it’s to light a fire under your butt so you get your shit done and to get you to free that spot for someone else ASAP. With this reasoning it is not reasonable to expect someone with a handicap to be under the same time constraint. This is completely bunk. Many towns consider parking fees a major source of revenue. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/34 "2019-04-11T19:04:54Z")
Parking meters? Cities still use those? In, for instance, Portland, they rely on time-stamped tags that you buy from a kiosk in the middle of the block. The kiosks take coins, bills or charge cards, meaning you no longer need a coin holder in your car, and they are portable: if you buy two hours of parking, you can use two hours of parking, anywhere in town. Seems more fair and practical than the old meter system. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/35 "2019-04-11T19:14:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You’d think San Fran would be liberal on this, but not really. On one very short street it turns into a “No stopping” zone at 3PM, for no discernable reason. Four metered spots, three handicapped spots. @ 2:50, three or four tow trucks line up and at 3:01 they cite and tow, including usually 2-3 handicapped parkers. It’s been many years since I’ve been in SF (courier service driver) but I’m assuming it’s still to provide more traffic lanes during rush hour. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/36 "2019-04-11T19:16:52Z")
> [@CC](#): > > I guess my view is if you’re handicapped you can have the primo spots, but there’s no justification for them to be free. If you qualify for the handicap spaces, life has dealt you enough grief, why not allow free parking? It doesn’t really cost anything. Do you also dislike veterans discounts? I know there are people that resent those for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/37 "2019-04-11T19:19:05Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You’d think San Fran would be liberal on this, but not really. On one very short street it turns into a “No stopping” zone at 3PM, for no discernable reason. There are many lanes in SF (and other cities) that are used for parking during off hours, and become a driving lane during commute hours. ETA: oops, running coach already said that. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/38 "2019-04-11T22:30:08Z")
Nm ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/39 "2019-04-11T23:51:57Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It’s been many years since I’ve been in SF (courier service driver) but I’m assuming it’s still to provide more traffic lanes during rush hour. That would make sense and usually it is for that reason but this was a small short side street. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366/40 "2019-04-12T00:01:52Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > 10 years ago, parking meters in downtown Vancouver were 25 cents for three minutes, $5 an hour. That’s $40 for an 8 hour day. $40 = $0 if the shoppers decide to go elsewhere. Our local town had meters on the main street and a block away during the 1950’s-1970’s. They never received a penny from my family, who deliberately parked two blocks away or went to the free-parking mall. In the 1980’s, largely at the request of the merchants, the city removed all of the meters, and there are no meters anywhere in the city (or county) today. Let that be a lesson to all of us. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-fee-for-parking-in-handicapped-spots/832366.md?page=3)